Statehouse Insider: It's not just Democrats critical of Rauner's budget plan - News - The State Journal-Register - Springfield, IL

 

• Democrats have complained for weeks that the budget Gov. BRUCE RAUNER introduced earlier this year — which doesn't rely on any revenue increases — is totally out of balance.

  They've seized on the fact that the Republican governor is booking $2.2 billion in savings from his version of pension reform, a plan that hasn't passed the General Assembly. Moreover, even if it does, his critics contend, he can't count on the savings because it will likely be tied up in the courts, the same way the last pension reform plan was challenged in court — and ultimately rejected. There are other factors, too, but that is the biggest dollar amount.

  That criticism could always be dismissed as little more than partisan sniping. But the Civic Federation, a respected fiscal watchdog group, doesn't fall into that category. Funded largely with corporate money, it can hardly be called a Democratic front group.

  What does the Civic Federation think of Rauner's budget proposal? Not much. The group issued a lengthy analysis last week and concluded that it "opposes Governor Rauner's recommended budget for FY2016 because it relies heavily on projected savings that do not appear to be achievable or prudent in light of the state of Illinois' obligations and long-term policy objectives."

  The administration responded by doubling down on the idea that the governor's "turnaround agenda," which also hasn't passed the General Assembly, will free up resources that will make everything work out.

  They might be better off paying closer attention to the federation's report.

  * It was a week of sending messages to Rauner around the Statehouse last week.

  First up was Senate President JOHN CULLERTON, D-Chicago, who said Rauner would be better served to start concentrating on developing a new state budget rather than continuing to focus on passing his "turnaround agenda." See above for how well that worked.

  Cullerton's comments were followed the next day by a committee of the whole hearing in the House on workers' compensation reform. Officially, it's supposed to give all House members a chance to hear testimony on a complicated issue and ask witnesses questions. Cynics will point out that these things often serve to signal where the House is heading on a particular issue. If that's the case, the message was that changing workers' comp laws faces an uphill fight in the House. At least any sweeping changes that could affect injured workers may be in trouble.

  Page 2 of 2 - Republicans complained that the hearing was loaded in favor of workers and that employers didn't get a sufficient chance to explain the difficulties they face with workers' comp laws. They're right, but that wasn't necessarily the point of the hearing.

  The workers' comp production was followed a day later by the House orchestrating a vote on Rauner's proposed human services budget. To no one's surprise, the House voted down Rauner's version of the budget. Republicans and Rauner complained that it was all political theater. OK, but it was theater with a message that the proposed cuts to human services aren't going to fly in the House.

  The question is, Is anyone listening?

  * "The city of Chicago is in deep, deep yogurt." Rauner at a speech last week explaining the financial challenges facing the city.

  * The annual House-Senate softball game was played last week.

  The House won in a 16-10 pitchers' duel, taking back the trophy from the upper chamber.

  Before the game, Sen. MATT MURPHY, R-Palatine, a key player in previous games, placed himself on the injured reserve list. During the 2013 game, he badly injured his knee and required "extensive" surgery to repair it.

  Sen. DAN KOTOWSKI, D-Park Ridge, made a lengthy and impassioned plea on the Senate floor for Murphy to suit up. It didn't work.

  — Contact Doug Finke: doug.finke@sj-r.com, 788-1527, twitter.com/dougfinkesjr.

• By Doug Finke, State Capitol Bureau

   

Statehouse Insider: It's not just Democrats critical of Rauner's budget plan - News - The State Journal-Register - Springfield, IL